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How to Take Apart and Clean Your PS4 Slim Download Article Remove dust buildup inside your console for better performance Written by Travis Boylls
Last Updated: December 31, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article
Preventative Cleaning
|
Disassembling the PS4 Slim
|
Cleaning the PS4 Slim
|
Reassembling the PS4 Slim
|
Video
|
Tips
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 253,630 times. Learn more...
Sometimes video-game consoles can collect a lot of dust, leading to loud noise from the fan, and a lot of heat generated from the heat sink. This makes it crucial to occasionally dismantle and clean the inside of your console in order to maintain its condition, improve performance, and prolong its life cycle. This process is fairly straight forward with a PS4 Slim. This wikiHow article teaches you how to disassemble and clean a PS4 Slim.
Disassemble and Clean a PS4 Slim
Unlatch the top cover at the corners and remove it.
Remove all the screws and remove the two metal plates.
Use a brush and canned air to clean the dust from the fan and heatsink.
Put the metal covers back in place and screw them down.
Place the top cover back in place and press down to reattach it.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 4:
Preventative Cleaning
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1 Wipe the outer case with a damp microfiber cloth. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with mild soap and water to scrub the outer case. Then use a dry cloth to dry it. Be careful not to get any liquid inside the PS4 or any of the ports.
Make sure the cloth isn’t too rough so it doesn’t scratch the outer case.
2 Use compressed air to loosen the dust in the vents. The vents are along the side of the PS4 Slim in the crevices. Hold the nozzle of a can of compressed air about 3–5 in (7.6–12.7 cm) from the vent at an angle. Spray short bursts of compressed air along the vents to loosen the dust. Advertisement
3 Clean the dust with a brush or cotton swab. Use the soft-bristle brush or cotton swab to clean out any remaining dust. Clearing the air vents periodically will prevent it from getting dusty on the inside and ensure that you don’t have to open it and clean the inside as often, which risks damaging the console.[1]XResearch source
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 4:
Disassembling the PS4 Slim
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1 Shut down and unplug the PS4 Slim. Place it on an open table in a clean environment.
If you have an original PS4 or PS4 Pro, you can follow this guide for help with cleaning.
2 Pull firmly on the front corners of the top cover. Place the PS4 so it is facing away from you and pull up on the front covers of the top cover to unclip them. Then slide the cover back to remove it.[2]XResearch source
Keep in mind, newer PS4 Slims which have not been dismantled before may require more firmness when pulling.
If the fan isn’t too dirty, you can spray some compressed air inside the fan to clean the dust out of it without having to open the PS4 Slim any further.
3 Remove the reflective metal plate. Use a TR8 Security Torx screwdriver to remove the two long screws holding in the reflective metal plate in place. Then slide the reflective plate out.[3]XResearch source
As you remove the screws, set them aside in labeled containers or compartments so you know which screws go where during reassembly.
4 Remove the screws holding the metal plate in place. You will need to use a combination of TR8 Torx Security screwdrivers and a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove all the screws holding the metal plate in place.[4]XResearch source
5 Cut the plastic rivets (if applicable). Some newer models have black plastic rivets holding the metal plate in addition to screws. If your PS4 has these, you will need to cut them to remove the metal plate. Use a knife, box cutter, or razor to cut the heads of the plastic rivets.
Alternatively, you can pinch around the heads of the rivets with a pair of threaded needle-nosed pliers. Once you’ve compressed the heads of the rivets enough, you can slip the holes in the plate up over them.[5]XResearch source
6 Lift up the battery pack just enough to be able to uncover the lip of the metal plate. This will allow you to remove the metal plate shielding the fan and heatsink.
Make sure you do not take out the entire battery pack, as there is no need to do so.
7 Remove the large metal plate. Remove all the screws holding the metal plate, and remove the plate to fully expose the fan and heatsink. You may need to wiggle it to get it out. Be careful not to be too rough with it.
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 4:
Cleaning the PS4 Slim
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1 Clean the outer vents. Use a small brush and canned air to clean the outer vents and intake ports around the sides of the console.
2 Clean the heatsink. Use the same brush to clean the heatsink, as well as canned air for a deeper clean.[6]XResearch source
3 Clean the fan and blades. Use canned air and cotton swabs to thoroughly clean the fan and its blades.[7]XResearch source
4 Use a handheld vacuum to remove excess dust. If there is a lot of dust inside your PS4 Slim, you can use a handheld vacuum or a vacuum cleaner hose with a nozzle attachment to remove all the excess clumps of dust.
Advertisement Part 4 Part 4 of 4:
Reassembling the PS4 Slim
Download Article
1 Place the metal plate back in place. This is the metal plate used to cover the fan and heatsink back into its proper spot. Use the proper screws to secure it.
This will be the most tedious part of the process, as it can be difficult to screw back in the screws due to their size.
2 Firmly push down on the battery pack so it is fully locked back in place. Proceed to screw in the screws.
3 Put the reflective metal plate back in place. Place it on top of the battery pack in its original spot. Once again, use the proper screws to screw it back in place.
4 Place the top cover back on. Place the top cover in its place and firmly press down on the corners to latch it in place.
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Expert Q&A
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Video
Things You'll Need
Small brush
Cotton Swabs
Rubbing alcohol
Canned air
TR8 Torx Security screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Tips
Place all screws in a secure location and organized fashion to ensure you do not lose them and can reassemble as quickly as possible. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 3
DO NOT flip over the PS4 Slim at any point during this process Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 14
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. This article has been viewed 253,630 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 7Updated: December 31, 2025 Views: 253,630 Categories: PlayStation 4 In other languagesJapanese
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 253,630 times.
Reader Success Stories
Jeremy Hall
Dec 28, 2022
"Thank you so much. Everywhere I went, I couldn't get the help I needed. But you truly are a blessing. I was worried I was going to burn out my modem because I couldn't clean my fan the way I wanted."..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer Click a star to vote Co-authors: 7Updated: December 31, 2025 Views: 253,630
Jeremy Hall
Dec 28, 2022
"Thank you so much. Everywhere I went, I couldn't get the help I needed. But you truly are a blessing. I was worried I was going to burn out my modem because I couldn't clean my fan the way I wanted."..." more
Sigrid Thyme
Dec 2, 2022
"Now I can clean my PS4 slim with ease."
John
Nov 23, 2022
"Very useful and clear, thanks." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Remove dust buildup inside your console for better performance Written by Travis Boylls 
How toClean a PS4 Controller 
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Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. This article has been viewed 253,630 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 7 Updated: December 31, 2025 Views: 253,630 Categories: PlayStation 4 In other languagesJapanese 
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1 Wipe the outer case with a damp microfiber cloth. Use a microfiber cloth dampened with mild soap and water to scrub the outer case. Then use a dry cloth to dry it. Be careful not to get any liquid inside the PS4 or any of the ports. 
2 Use compressed air to loosen the dust in the vents. The vents are along the side of the PS4 Slim in the crevices. Hold the nozzle of a can of compressed air about 3–5 in (7.6–12.7 cm) from the vent at an angle. Spray short bursts of compressed air along the vents to loosen the dust. Advertisement 
3 Clean the dust with a brush or cotton swab. Use the soft-bristle brush or cotton swab to clean out any remaining dust. Clearing the air vents periodically will prevent it from getting dusty on the inside and ensure that you don’t have to open it and clean the inside as often, which risks damaging the console.[1] Advertisement 
1 Shut down and unplug the PS4 Slim. Place it on an open table in a clean environment. 
2 Pull firmly on the front corners of the top cover. Place the PS4 so it is facing away from you and pull up on the front covers of the top cover to unclip them. Then slide the cover back to remove it.[2] 
3 Remove the reflective metal plate. Use a TR8 Security Torx screwdriver to remove the two long screws holding in the reflective metal plate in place. Then slide the reflective plate out.[3] 
4 Remove the screws holding the metal plate in place. You will need to use a combination of TR8 Torx Security screwdrivers and a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove all the screws holding the metal plate in place.[4] 
5 Cut the plastic rivets (if applicable). Some newer models have black plastic rivets holding the metal plate in addition to screws. If your PS4 has these, you will need to cut them to remove the metal plate. Use a knife, box cutter, or razor to cut the heads of the plastic rivets. 
6 Lift up the battery pack just enough to be able to uncover the lip of the metal plate. This will allow you to remove the metal plate shielding the fan and heatsink. 
7 Remove the large metal plate. Remove all the screws holding the metal plate, and remove the plate to fully expose the fan and heatsink. You may need to wiggle it to get it out. Be careful not to be too rough with it. Advertisement 
1 Clean the outer vents. Use a small brush and canned air to clean the outer vents and intake ports around the sides of the console. 
2 Clean the heatsink. Use the same brush to clean the heatsink, as well as canned air for a deeper clean.[6] 
3 Clean the fan and blades. Use canned air and cotton swabs to thoroughly clean the fan and its blades.[7] 
4 Use a handheld vacuum to remove excess dust. If there is a lot of dust inside your PS4 Slim, you can use a handheld vacuum or a vacuum cleaner hose with a nozzle attachment to remove all the excess clumps of dust. Advertisement 
1 Place the metal plate back in place. This is the metal plate used to cover the fan and heatsink back into its proper spot. Use the proper screws to secure it. 
2 Firmly push down on the battery pack so it is fully locked back in place. Proceed to screw in the screws. 
3 Put the reflective metal plate back in place. Place it on top of the battery pack in its original spot. Once again, use the proper screws to screw it back in place. 
4 Place the top cover back on. Place the top cover in its place and firmly press down on the corners to latch it in place. Advertisement 